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Management Theories for Sustainability
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:39:11
Abstract
The seminar introduces Master and PhD students doing research in the field of sustainability to the most important management theories. The goal is to enable participants to decide, which theoretical perspectives to use in their own projects and enhance the chance of publishing in top-ranked journals. In addition, students will practice how to evaluate theories and derive practical implications.
Objective
After taking this course, students will be able to... • Know important theories in the field of management. • Understand their background, core constructs, important propositions, boundary conditions, and assumptions. • Critically analyze and discuss strengths and weaknesses of as well as the relationships between different management theories. • Apply the theories and constructs to important sustainability topics, such as strategic sustainability transformations, sustainable innovation, sustainability policy, sustainable finance, or sustainable consumption. • Derive and critically assess the practical implications of theories for managers and firms.
Content
The course “Management Theories for Sustainability” aims to provide interested students at the Master and PhD level with the theoretical knowledge that allows them to understand and apply management theories in their sustainability-oriented research. Prior to the seminar, each participant will be assigned a theoretical perspective for which they will prepare a 20-minute presentation that describes the theory’s history, core constructs, main propositions, boundary conditions, and assumptions. The presentation will be based on 2-3 review articles that are provided prior to the course. In addition, the students should identify one empirical paper in the context of sustainability that applies their theoretical perspective and briefly describe how the paper uses the theory. At the beginning of the seminar, participants will be introduced some important basics on theories and theorizing (e.g., what is a theory, how can we judge its quality). Subsequently, participants will then give their presentations, followed by an open discussion of the theory’s strengths and weaknesses, which alternative settings/projects in the field of sustainability could the theory be meaningfully applied to, what a good empirical design to test/build theories in the field would look like, and what current trends in the field are. The discussion of theory application will be facilitated by selected case studies from the sustainability-context and interactive group work, aiming to showcase the practical relevance of the theoretical frameworks. Theories that will be covered in the course are (1) Contingency Theory, (2) Institutional Theory, Institutional Entrepreneurship, and Institutional Work, (3) Resource Dependence and Stakeholder Theory, (4) Co-Evolution, (5) Social Network Theory and Social Capital, (6) Innovation Ecosystems and Platforms, (7) Resource-based View and Resource Orchestration, (8) (Dynamic) Capabilities and Routines, (9) Exploration/Exploitation and Ambidexterity, (10) Agency Theory, (11) Transaction Cost Economics, (12) Upper Echelons Theory and Top Management Teams, (13) Managerial Cognition and Sensemaking, (14) Organizational Identity and Image, and (15) Framing and Impression Management. In addition to preparing the presentation, participants will be expected to read the case studies and participate in the discussions in class. In addition, when preparing their presentations, participants should gather additional information on the theory covered in their paper, e.g., by reading the background papers listed in the reading list. Students are NOT required to read the papers pertaining to other theories. These theories will be covered in class.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar |
Management Theories for Sustainability
Block course
|
|
24 h semesterly |